Sony appears set to reveal PlayStation 4 at Feb. 20 event

New hardware rumors abound as Sony gears up for official unveiling.

Sony isn't officially saying what it will talk about at the mysterious Feb. 20 "PlayStation Meeting" that it invited press, analysts, and investors to late yesterday. That said, the cryptic come-on to "see the future" has practically everyone in the industry ready for the official unveiling of the PlayStation 4.

The Wall Street Journal has gone so far as to report the PS4 unveiling as fact. Its report cites "people familiar with the matters" as saying the new console will focus on adding more social gaming and user interaction rather than relying purely on hardware improvements. Meanwhile, Edge is now reporting that the system will include a redesigned DualShock controller, including a central touchpad and a "Share" button that will let players easily post video and screenshots.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter is gearing up for a hardware announcement too, tweeting that "Sony is inviting investors and media to the Feb 20 event; that means console announcement." Back in 2011, Sony held another PlayStation Meeting in Tokyo that served as the first discussion of the portable Vita.

Sony CEO Kaz Hirai recently hinted that it would let Microsoft "go first" with regard to the next generation of consoles, but it's unclear if he was referring to announcements or the actual release date of a system, which Microsoft is widely expected to launch by the end of the year. Microsoft has so far been quiet about any official announcement of the successor to the Xbox 360, but Game Informer recently reported that both Sony and Microsoft are planning "Apple-style press conferences" for their next platforms around March's Game Developers Conference.

We've been hearing dribs and drabs about PlayStation 4 development since early 2011. Reports indicate the system may work on an x86 chip architecture, a design choice that could signal an important change in the game industry. More recently, reliable sources suggested the system, codenamed Orbis, would limit pre-owned games to a "trial mode" when the original owner is not logged in. Sony recently applied for a patent for RFID-based technology that would do just that.

Ars will be on the scene for Sony's announcements on February 20, so be sure to check back in for up-to-date news.

Steam has ruined me. I now find the idea of a 60$ game ridiculous, the last game I paid more than 30$ for was a preorder for a sequel to one of my all time favorites and that was only because of green man offering a 30% preorder discount thatt brought the price way down.

In other words, if you do away with used games I'll never buy another console game again I guess because I'm sure as hell not paying 60$ a pop. Development costs may have gone up but so have sales numbers. Meanwhile quality and innovation have stagnated.

Hear me out. Valve and Sony entered into an agreement with Portal 2, which allowed Portal 2 players on the PS3 to use the Steam network for coop and other things. A PS3 buyer was also granted a SteamPlay version on PC for free.

Sony's network sucks. They know it. If they partnered with Valve, they could mitigate their image problems here.

Hypothetically, the "SteamStation" could still have exclusive PS4 titles that Steam-on-PC users couldn't access, while the new console would immediately have a library of all games already available on Steam-Linux.

This would require Sony to make a PS4 that is basically just a consolized PC, but I think Sony wants to do that anyway. The specialized hardware like the Cell didn't do them any favours, in performance or pricing. Regardless of whether this fantasy of mine came true, I'm sure the PS4 will have commodity parts.

More recently, reliable sources suggested the system, codenamed Orbis, would limit pre-owned games to a "trial mode" when the original owner is not logged in. Sony recently applied for a patent for RFID-based technology that would do just that.

The more I hear about the next gen consoles and their bid to up their DRM, the more utterly turned off I feel.

And while maybe there will be some revelation of a new disc format or similar to help trojan in the new systems, I certainly haven't heard of it yet. The supposition that these will be 4k/ultraHD platforms (or perhaps more accurately, that anyone will really care) seems ridiculous right now at least, especially with the utter lack of average consumer positioned 4k/ultraHD screens (not to mention content).

One of the very few things that I dislike about Steam is that it doesn't work very well for a media PC where multiple individuals may want to log in and track progress separately on the same game: unless you want to re buy the same game repeatedly, you are going to be forced to use a single Steam account for something like a family media PC.

Of course, at least with many Steam games, you can afford to buy multiple copies of a game.

One of the few things (other than particular titles not available on the PC) which keeps me going back to console gaming is the ability to buy a game once and play it across multiple accounts. Granted the 360 feels about a million times more fluid at this than the PS3, but that's not the point.

If this DRM goes into effect and if it is going to work as stated (requiring the one particular account first associated with it to be logged in, rather than working for any account so long as it is played on the system first associated with it--ignoring for a moment how much complete crap that would be too for a physical product) it's really going to kill a lot of the point behind having different accounts and the associated social media aspects of doing so. Family style gaming is one of the things consoles do so well, and as described this style of DRM is going to negatively impact that. Sure, we can all just use one account (it's not as if we needed individual online accounts to have fun playing Super Mario Bros!), but then what has been the point of the entire social/individual account push of the past few years?

PS4 had better be something AMAZING for me to ditch my PS3, which to me is still a damn good console. I have sick games like Dead Space 3 to play on it. I have Netflix and the PSN. I have all of my Trophies. What happens to those? What happens to my PSN handle? Me friends list? They need to release these details.

There is not BC coming for PS3 games from what we have heard and I hate having more than one main console, not withstanding retro ones like N64 or my Dreamcast. Too much clutter for a PS3 AND a PS4 on my HDTV stand.

Wow me Sony. Wow me HUGE.

EDIT: I am saying this as a life time Sony fan. If they restrict the use of used games Sony can screw the pooch. ┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐ U Sony.

One of the very few things that I dislike about Steam is that it doesn't work very well for a media PC where multiple individuals may want to log in and track progress separately on the same game: unless you want to re buy the same game repeatedly, you are going to be forced to use a single Steam account for something like a family media PC.

Can't you have multiple Windows users share a Steam account? I think most of the games save their settings in the user's My Documents or elsewhere in their profile, so the logged on Windows user is what counts. Does anyone know if this is correct?

The more consoles cost for basic game functions such as online passes and online functionality (XBL) the less likely I am to return to console platforms. My wife works at gamestop and mentioned that buying a used copy of playstation allstars battle royale causes the POS computer to print an online passcode. WHY? It's only adding more steps and red tape between me and my enjoyment of your games. With steam the way it is, PC games are increasingly more user friendly and consoles just the opposite. Once Valve releases a turnkey gaming pc, they'll blow the other consoles out of the water in terms of usability in my eyes. I'm sorry, Sony and Microsoft, if you keep this segregation of gaming and online functionality, you won't be getting my return business. Simple as that.

Between all the "next gen" consoles, I truly do want at least one of them to adopt x86-64 with many identical cores. The sooner engine developers optimize their engines to run on X cores, the sooner PC games will benefit from this.

Console games, optimized for whatever system with a bunch of cores, will have an easier path to port games over to PC. Will there be poor ports? Yes. Will there be awesome ports? You betcha. With OSX gaining some traction on the desktop, the market for a game engine optimized for a lot of similar cores is really worth looking into.

I have very much enjoyed my PS3, but if they go ahead with the plan to restrict used games I probably won't be buying a PS4. It's not just sticking it to ripoff merchants like Gamestop: this would mean no more renting, borrowing or trading of games with anybody. That is a restriction I am not willing to put up with in a full price game. It means you end up with piles of games that you're finished with but can't get rid of and can't even get the satisfaction of giving to someone else who might enjoy them. Given its financial situation, Sony really needs a success story right now. But this kind of dick anti-consumer move would pretty much guarantee the PS4 isn't one.

I better get to playing all these PS3 games I bought and never opened.=(

Ha, I thought I was the only one who did that.

I pretty much stopped buying PS3 games the past 2 years because I still haven't played the games I have. Stupid life(and iPad) interfering with my PS3 gaming. It's become tough to commit to a 100+ hour game...

You might as well say goodbye to used game sales now, or even the idea of a physical disc being a game. Everything will be tied to an online account, as it is with Steam. Unfortunately, though, I don't expect Sony and Microsoft to do things anywhere near as well as Valve does.

The original XBox started the move of consoles towards PC components and developers preferred it. Developers complained about the PS2 and PS3 being difficult to develop for after Sony built their initial market because the PS1 was easier to develop for than the N64.

So far, it doesn't sound very appealing. If I'm going to "upgrade" to a new unit that presumably won't run my old PS3 games, it would have to be technologically quite amazing, with the ability to play games as dramatically better from PS3 games as PS3 games were better than PS2. 4K certainly isn't a selling point--I doubt if I'll have a 4K compatible TV for years. And if they're really going to cut out used games, that's another reason not to buy it, unless they are planning to actually price-compete with smartphone, pad, and used PS3 games, which would mean reducing the typical new game price to under $20.

I better get to playing all these PS3 games I bought and never opened.=(

Ha, I thought I was the only one who did that.

I pretty much stopped buying PS3 games the past 2 years because I still haven't played the games I have. Stupid life(and iPad) interfering with my PS3 gaming. It's become tough to commit to a 100+ hour game...

Amen. Replace PS3 with Xbox and I'm in exactly the same boat. Between steam sales, life, and getting a wife, I have a huge stack of unplayed games (fortunately they're all either borrowed, used or at least bought on very good sales).

I prefer the PS3 controller to the 360 controller. I purchased a PS3 over a 360 initially because of the BluRay player. With the next generation, I'm not sure if I'll go Sony or Microsoft at the moment.

But I do know that annoying DRM schemes that punish me as a consumer will convince me to never buy your console.

If Sony and Microsoft both have such DRM schemes, then I'll stick to PC gaming.

I'm a big hardware nerd, I like going over the specs and seeing what new little features are hiding in the hardware... but this upcoming generation has me wary. They seem hellbent on crippling used games, which pisses me off. They should be focused on the customer, not on getting the game publisher's back. I know the idea of customer experience trumping profits is naive, I just still think it should happen.

Though I'm still not feeling "ready" for the next gen of consoles, I'm curious to see what they come up with. That said, I stil feel like I've got a good 3 years left out of my PS3, especially with catching up on old games.

The main exception is if they go through with this possible pre-owned blocking maneuver. If that turns out to be true, the PS3 will be the last Sony console I own, and that's having been onboard with PS since the beginning. A large part of my casual game shopping comes from used games, and I'm not about to change that. If a new game seems good enough to warrant my $60 I'll jump on it, otherwise I'm going to wait.

With the way things are going to Sony, a step like this seems like suicide. Might sound good on paper to help your bottom line, but you will alienate a big portion of your remaining fanbase.

reliable sources suggested the system, codenamed Orbis, would limit pre-owned games to a "trial mode" when the original owner is not logged in.

If this is true I guess no more Playstation for me.

I guess no more new console play for you. Both Sony and Microsoft have been talking up putting technologies into their next console systems that would curtail the ability to play used games. Since they're likely to be pushing towards an all digital downloads future I would say it won't be much of an issue anyway. Sony certainly won't be dumping the optical drive (they've spent too much money pushing Blu-ray down the studios collective throats) but I have a feeling they're going to be pushing developers and publishers towards selling over the PSN rather than physical media. I expect nothing less from Microsoft too.

Sony isn't in a position to lose another huge pile of money like they did with the PS3 launch, so it's a safe bet the PS4 hardware will be a more modest update made from lots of off-the-shelf parts and will either jettison backwards-compatibility or restrict it to a more expensive model. Basically the Vita strategy all over again.

Does anyone else find it a bit telling that even on a tech site that a lot of comments boil down to "meh, the version I have now is good enough"?

Maybe technology has already gotten to the point where, short of some amazing (and unexpected) breakthrough, there isn't all that much difference to be seen by most. Up until now, every generation has shown a drastic increase in presentation quality (with the possible exception of the Wii, but that had novelty). HD to 4K just doesn't seem like much of a change. Games can be nearly photo-realistic and 3D already.

This just seems more like a tech refresh instead of any sort of actual advancement.

Why not just build a Steam box? You can upgrade when you need to and the games will be cheap. Why try to associate Sony with it?

Sony doesn't like to discount things. Sony's ethic this generation have been abysmal. Remove the "Install other OS" option (without giving me any sort of refund for taking away a huge functionality the system was sold to me with)? I now have to pay for updates? You will break my Prime/Netflix until I accept your customer hosing update? It goes on an on.The new generation they are suggesting that there will be no used games? Sounds like they are of to a great start in the 0 ethics game. If they do this I will enjoy my steam box and ignore MS and Sony until the other consoles are cracked. I will miss out on God of War 28 and a few other titles but that is the price of not supporting unethical behavior. It is scary that Sony thinks they can convince the average consumer that the consumer is no longer allowed to actually own things. What is worse is I think they may be able to actually succeed.

If we're talking about rumors here - GTA5 just got pushed back to a fall release date so.... launch title?

The ultraHD rumors are just crap - it might be able to output to a 4k display, but it's not going to have the horsepower to have any games rendered at that resolution.

To stoke the flamewars - anyone remember how much the PS3 and PS2 were oversold when they were revealed? The PS3 had the batarang controller and a whole bunch of ethernet ports that disappeared before launch, and the PS3 was supposed to be 'Toy Story' quality graphics. I can't wait to see what Sony promises this time, only to cut a few months later.

Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in Pittsburgh, PA.